Photoprinting apparatus



c. F. BRUNDAGE PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 195

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill? IN'VENTOR.

NTON F. BRUNDAGE BY @544 Mg ymu ATTORNEYS 1960 c. F. BRUNDAGE 2,959,114

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill-ii INVENTOR.

CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE United States Patent PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Clinton F. Brundage, Mahwah, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 13, 1958, Ser. No. 734,867

6 Claims. (Cl. 95-73) This invention relates generally to the art of printing, and more particularly to apparatus for photoprinting on light-sensitive sheet material.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus simple in construction and reliable in operation for printing on light-sensitive sheet material from light transmitting inserts carried by record cards.

Another object is to provide a novel photoprinting apparatus for receiving printing devices in the form of transparencies bearing recorded information or other indicia in a superposed position to a light-sensitive sheet material at a printing position and for thereafter subjecting said light-sensitive material to light through each transparency to expose the same and thereby reproduce the information or other matter thereon.

Another object is to provide a novel photoprinting apparatus for receiving at a printing position a record card having a light-sensitive insert and a record card having a light transmitting insert wherein the insert areas of each card are in register with each other, and for thereafter subjecting said light-sensitive material to light through the light transmitting insert to expose the same and thereby reproduce the information or other matter thereon.

A still further object is to provide in a photoprinting apparatus a novel means for clamping together the light transmitting insert carried by record cards and the lightsensitive insert carried by other record cards whereby wrinkling and buckling of the same is prevented during the time that the light-sensitive insert is being exposed.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a photoprinting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention with certain parts broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said apparatus taken along line 22 of Fig. 1, certain parts broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of said apparatus taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus taken on line 44 of Fig. 2 with certain parts broken away for purposes of clearer illustration; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown, by way of example, one form of photoprinting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention which is particularly, although not exclusively, adapted for printing on a light-sensitive insert of a record or ordinary card the selected information contained on a transparency or transparent insert of a similar record or ordinary card. Additionally, the present invention comprehends the duplication of photographs and other opaque and translucent sheets or inserts in aperture cards on inserts of other cards which are either coated on the outer surface thereof with a diazo-type composition and developed by exposure to ammonia vapors or coated with a photographic composition which is fixed and developed by heat such as the commercially available product known as Kalfax.

There is shown in Fig. 1 one form of photoprinting apparatus wherein the numeral 10 designates a base having downwardly extending leg portions 11. An outer casing 12 of suitable configuration encases the various parts of the apparatus and is secured to base 10. A vertically extending rear wall portion 13 supports a light element 14 which in the described embodiment is a commercial type flood light bulb mounted such that its longitudinal center line extends approximately parallel to the base 10. Light element 14 is separated and shielded from the rest of the apparatus by a partition 15 consisting of a base plate 16 bolted to base 10, side members 17 and 18, a top plate member 19 and a first end plate 20 and a parallel and spaced apart second end plate 21. The upper portion of end plate 20 is slanted to the rear as shown at 22 as and for a purpose hereinafter to appear. Plates 20 and 21 have apertures 23, 24, respectively therein, of equal size and in horizontal alignment for allowing passage of light from light source 14. Mounted to the rear surface of plate 20 and over aperture 23 is a glass plate 25 which is retained in a frame 26 and which is threadedly secured to plate 20 by thumb screws 27. Glass plate 25 is preferably of the type which will freely pass the ultra violet rays from light source 14 and which will block the red or heat rays. Thus, the glass plate will retard the heat from light source 14 from reaching the film while freely allowing the ultra violet to pass through to expose the film. Positioned in the space between plates 20 and 21 and mounted at its upper end for pivotal movement is a shutter 28 having an area greater than the area of apertures 23 and 24. The shutter 28 is normally retained in horizontal and vertical alignment with apertures 23 and 24 to prevent the passage of light from light source 14 through said apertures. Mounted forwardly of plate 24 is a vertically extending glass plate 29 having bevelled edges on the front surface thereof and a parallel and spaced apart plate 30 with a card receiving throat area 31 therebetween. Glass plate 29 is preferably of a type of material such as Pyrex which efficiently passes the ultra violet rays from light source 14. Plate 30 is suitably secured to base 10 at its lower end and is bent outwardly at the upper end as at 32 thereby forming an enlarged area at the top of said throat to aid in the insertion of cards therein. A rectangular opening in casing 12 provides access to the card throat area 31. A vertically extending plate 33 supports glass plate 29 and is secured at its lower end to plate 30 with an L-shaped spacer therebetween. The upper end of spacer 34 has a groove 35 for receiving the lower bevelled surface of plate 29. Bolted to the front surface of plate 33 and at each side of plate 29 are retaining members 36, 37 which overlap and engage the bevelled side edges of plate 29 and hold said plate flat against the front surface of plate 33. Plate 33 also has an aperture 38 of the same size as, and in horizontal alignment with, apertures 23 and 24. Thus, when shutter 28 is pivotally moved out of alignment with apertures 23 and 24, light rays from light element 14 will enter into throat area 31 through aperture 38. Suitably secured to the top of plate 33 by a bracket 39 is a solenoid 40 having a shaft 41 to which the upper end of shutter 28 is fixedly secured. Solenoid 40 has internal spring means, not shown, which tends to rotate shaft 41 of the solenoid clockwise. When the solenoid is energized, shaft 41 thereof is turned counterclockwise against the action of said spring and thereby pivotally moves shutter 28 out of alignment with apertures 23 and 24 and permits the light from light source 14 to expose the light-sensitive elements positioned in throat area 31. When the solenoid is deenergized, the spring will rotate the shaft clockwise and pivotally return the shutter to its starting position.

One of the ditficulties in passing light rays from light source 14 through apertures 23, 24 and 38 was that the rays in the center of the apertures were of greater intensity than the rays around the periphery of the apertures so that a uniform light was not striking all portions of the film. To overcome this difiiculty, a wire screen 77 having an area of one-half the total area of an aperture is mounted in the center of aperture 24. Screen 77 is centered and secured in aperture 24 by wires 78 having their outer ends secured, such as by soldering, to the peripheral surface of aperture 24. Screen 77 can he of any suitable material which will withstand heat and can be of any desired and suitable size mesh. In the disclosed embodiment it was found that aluminum 16 mesh screening provided a satisfactory screen. While some of the light rays in the center of the aperture are blocked ofi? by the screen, a somewhat longer exposure time adequately compensates for the presence of the screen and a more evenly exposed film is accomplished.

The throat area 31 is adapted to receive the thickness of two apertured record cards of the type commonly employed in connection with known and existing record tabulating and sorting systems and machines. Such cards normally have the aperture located centrally of and near one end of the card of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,512,106, issued June 20, 1950, to J. F. Langa-n. The record card carrying the transparent insert in its aperture is preferably placed over another record card carrying a light-sensitive insert in its aperture with the inserts of each card in register with each other. In such a position, the apertured ends of both cards are manually inserted into throat area 31. In order to expose the light-sensitive insert, it is necessary that the transparent insert be placed nearest the light source 14. The top surface 46 of the reduced portion of spacer 34 serves as a stop means for the downward movement of the cards in the throat area 31. To further aid in guiding and positioning the cards in throat area 31 is a longitudinal side guide 42 mounted on plate 33 at one side thereof and having a straight edge 43 forming one side of the throat area. Resiliently mounted to plate 33 on the other side of the throat area is a plate 44 which is normally urged toward guide 42 by a spring 45. Thus, as the cards are inserted into the throat area, the resiliently mounted plate 44 will urge the longitudinal side edges of the cards against the straight edge 43 of guide 42 and into vertical alignment with each other. The vertically aligned cards will drop downwardly until their lower ends abut stop 46 in which position the transparent insert and the light-sensitive insert of each card are in horizontal alignment with apertures 23, 24 and 38 whereby light rays from light source 14 will pass through said apertures and said transparency and expose the light-sensitive insert. As described above, the record cards have transparent inserts centrally mounted between the sides and near one end thereof. The vertical distance from the stop 46 to the lower edge of aperture 38 is the same as the normal distance from one end of said cards to the edge of the transparent insert. However in cases where the transparency is mounted in the card nearer one end than is normally the case, additional stop means 54 must be provided in throat area 31 so that when the cards are seated against said stop means in said throat area the aperture areas of each will be in alignment with apertures 23, 24 and 38. For this purpose, fingers 50 are, pivotally mounted at one end thereof to a shaft 51 which is rotatably secured in a vertically extending support member 52 which is secured at its lower end to base 10. Suitable openings 53 in plate 30 permit fingers 50 having a stop surface 54 to be operatively moved into throat area 31. One end of shaft 51 extends outwardly through a suitable opening in casing 12 and has a knob 55 fixedly secured thereto. Thus, by manually turning knob 55, shaft 51 is rotated which in turn will move fingers 50 and stops 54 into or out of throat 31.

A vertically extending U-shaped arm member 56 is pivotally mounted at its lower end to a shaft 57 the ends of which are mounted in support 52. The upper end of arm 56 has a cover portion 58. A spring member 59 is coiled around shaft 57 as shown in Fig. 4. One end of spring 59 passes through an aperture 49 in the front portion of arm 56 and has its end bent in such a manner that it is retained in contact with the front surface of arm 56. The other end of spring 59 extends downwardly and rearwardly and rests on the top of shaft 51. Spring 59 is pretensioned and will constantly urge arm 56 to the right as shown in Fig. 1 and away from throat area 31. Mounted to the upper front surface of arm 56 and extending downwardly along the front portion thereof is a resilient bracket 65. The upper end of a plate 66 is secured to the lower end of bracket 65. A pad of resilient material 67 such as felt or rubber is secured to the surface of plate 66. A screw 68 is threadedly secured into and through the front portion of arm 56 with the front end of screw 68 positioned to contact the center of plate 66. Thus, by adjusting screw 68, plate 66 and pad 67 can be positioned closer to or further from arm 58. An aperture 69' in plate 30 permits pad 66 to enter into and be moved through throat 31. The novel mounting of pad 66 to arm 56 assures that said pad will move into the throat area at right angles to the cards positioned in said throat area and because the point of pressure moving the pad forward is at the center thereof, an equal pressure will be exerted at all points of contact between the pad and the cards.

A lever arm 60 is pivotally mounted at 61 to the upper end of support 52 and has its forward end bifurcated thereby forming arms 62 and 63 with a roller 64 rotatably mounted therebetween. The rear portion of lever 60 projects through an opening 47 in casing 12 and is pivotally movable within the limits of opening 47. In its normal inactive position the rear portion of lever 60 will be in engagement with the upper edge of aperture 47. Since arm 56 is resiliently urged away from throat area 31 and toward lever 60, roller 64 will engage the front wall portion of arm 56 at a point below the cover 58. In this position the pad 66 will be withdrawn from throat area 31 and the cards will have unobstructed movement therein. When it is desired to move the pad into the throat area which will press the negative and light-sensitive material together against glass plate 29, the rear portion of lever 60 is pushed downwardly into engagement with the lower edge of aperture 47. Roller 64 will then be moved upwardly against cover 58, as shown in Fig. 1, and will pivotally move arm 56 toward the throat area 31 and which in turn will push pad 67 into the throat area and against the cards in said throat area.

A conventional timing mechanism 70 is mounted to the casing 12, as-shown in Fig. 1, and controls the electrical circuit to solenoid 40 whereby the length of time that the solenoid is operated is controlled by a predetermined time set on the timing device. A conventional blower and motor unit 71 is suspended from the lower surface of base 10 with the discharge side of the blower extending upwardly into the space between plates 21 and 33. A tape-ring shield 72 is secured to the discharge end of the blower and directs the air therefrom upwardly and against the transparent plate 29 to cool the same from the heating which results from exposure to the light rays of element 14. Vents 73 in the top surface of casing 12 provides a discharge area for the forced cooling air.

In operation of the described apparatus, a record card having a transparent insert and a record card having a light-sensitive insert are positioned in throat area 31 such that the transparency is positioned adjacent the transparent plate and such that the insert areas of both cards are in register with each other and in alignment with aperture 38 of plate 33. The outer end of lever 60 is then pushed downwardly which moves roller 64 upwardly against plate 58 of arm 56 which in turn pivotally moves arm 56 toward throat 31. As arm 56 pivotally moves toward throat 31 it pushes pad 67 into the throat area and against the light-sensitive insert whereby the lightsensitive insert and the transparent insert will be clamped together and against the transparent plate 29. After this clamping action has been completed, the timer is set to a predetermined exposure time and actuated which energizes solenoid 40 which in turn pivotally moves shutter 26 and allows light rays from light element 14 to pass through apertures 23, 24 and 38 to expose the lightsensitive insert in throat 31. After the proper exposure time, the solenoid is deenergized and the shutter 28 returns to its normal position, the holding device is released and the cards carrying the exposed inserts and the transparency are removed from throat 31.

As stated above, the light-sensitive material may be of the diazotype composition capable of being developed by exposure to ammonia vapors or a photographic composition capable of being developed by exposure to heat. For the type of photographic composition which is capable of being developed by heat, a still further embodiment of the invention is provided. Secured to the inner surface of slanted wall 22 is a card receiving chamber 74 having a flared opening 75 at the upper end thereof. A slot 76 in casing 12 provides access to flared opening 75. Since light element 14 is mounted adjacent card receiving chamber 74 heat from said light source will heat chamber 74 and develop the exposed light-sensitive material placed therein.

While the present invention is herein illustrated and described in connection with the duplication of transparencies mounted in a record card to a light-sensitive insert mounted in another record card, it is equally adapted to the duplication of portions of a transparency on a light-sensitive sheet of material where neither the transparency nor the light-sensitive sheet is mounted in a conventional card as well as any desired combinations thereof. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to duplication of film sections mounted in cards of the statistical or tabulating machine type, since other forms of record or catalogue cards, as well as ordinary cards, may be used for this purpose. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to any particular type of photographic material since any type of light-sensitive photographic material can equally be used.

Further, various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts of the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be clear to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be expressly understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A photoprinting apparatus comprising a source of light, means to automatically align and hold a transparent insert of a record card superimposed and in alignment with a light-sensitive insert of another record card and within the range of the light source comprising a throat area and a straight edge surface on one side of said throat area and a plate on the opposite side of said throat area, said plate being resiliently urged toward the straight edge surface whereby the longitudinal edge portions of the cards are constantly urged toward said straight edge surface, means for rendering said light source effective and for a time interval sutficient to expose said element through said transparent insert.

2. In a photoprinting apparatus the combination of a source of light, a transparent plate positioned within the range of said light source, a plate parallel to and transversely spaced from said transparent plate and forming a throat area therebetween, means located Within said throat area to receive and position the negative portion of a first card in alignment with a light-sensitive portion of a second card and within the range of said light source comprising a straight edge surface on one side of said throat area and a plate on the opposite side of said throat area, said plate being resiliently urged toward the straight edge surface whereby the longitudinal edge portions of the cards are constantly urged toward said straight edge portion, stationary stop means protmding into said throat area whereby downward movement of said cards into said throat is restricted, means movable into and out of said throat area above said stop means whereby the cards may be stopped in their downward movement short of said stationary stop means, and means for rendering said light source effective and for a time interval sufficient to expose said element through said negative.

3. In a photoprinting apparatus, the combination of a light source, a housing for said light source and having an aperture therein for permitting the projecting of light rays from said light source, means for reducing the intensity of the light rays passing through the central portion of said aperture comprising a wire mesh having a surface area substantially one-half the area of said aperture and means for retaining said wire mesh in the center of said aperture, and means to position and to hold the negative portion of a first card in register with a light-sensitive portion of a second card and within the range of said light rays, and means for rendering said light source effective and for a time interval sufficient to expose said element through said negative.

4. In a photoprinting apparatus the combination of a source of light, a transparent plate positioned within the range of said light source, a plate parallel to and transversely spaced from said transparent plate and forming a throat area therebetween, means located within said throat area to receive and position the negative portion of a first card in register with a light sensitive portion of a scond card and within the range of said light source, said last mentioned means comprising a first guide having a straight edge surface forming one side of said throat area and a second guide on the opposite side of said throat-area, said second guide being resiliently urged toward the straight edge surface of said first guide whereby the longitudinal edge portions of the cards are consistently moved toward said straight edge surface, a shutter located between the source of light and the transparent plate, means for operating said shutter for rendering said light source effective for a time interval sufficient to expose said element through said negative, and stop means protruding into said throat area whereby the downward movement of said cards into said throat is restricted.

5. In a photoprinting apparatus the combination of a light source, a housing for said light source and having an aperture therein for permitting the projecting of the light rays from said light source, means for reducing the intensity of the light rays passing through the center portion of said aperture comprising a wire mesh having a surface area substantially half the area of said aperture and means for retaining said wire mesh substantially in the center of said aperture, a transparent plate positioned within the range of said light rays, a plate parallel to and transversely spaced from said transparent plate and forming a throat area therebetween, means located within said throat area to receive and position the negative portion of the first card in register with a light sensitive portion of a second card and within the range of said light rays, a shutter located between the source of light and said transparent plate and means for operating said shutter for rendering said light source effective for a time to sufliciently expose said element through said negative.

6. In a photoprinting apparatus the combination of a light source, a housing for said light source and having an aperture therein for permitting the projecting of light rays from said light source, means for reducing the in tensity of the light rays passing the central portion of said aperture, a plate parallel to and transversely spaced from said transparent plate and forming a throat area therebetween, means located within said area to receive and position the negative portion of a first card in register with a light sensitive portion of a second card and within the range of said light rays, a transparent plate which will freely pass ultra-violet rays but will block red rays from said light source and being positioned between said light source and said throat area, a shutter located between the source of light and said throat area, and means for operating said shutter for rendering said light source effective and for a time interval sufficicnt to expose said element through said negative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,032,378 Chandler July 16, 1912 1,742,811 Hopkins Jan. 7, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,990 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1910 376,669 Great Britain July 14, 1932 438,483 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1935 

